John Paul Villegas's body was recovered by the elements of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Iloilo and Coast Guard Special Operations Group (CGSOG)-Western Visayas on the same day after receiving the information from Edward Espinosa of the Iloilo City Emergency Responded (ICER) around 5:55PM.

 

Investigation revealed that John Paul and three of his friends went swimming around 3:00PM of the same day at the said area. According to his friends, the victim swam to the deeper portion of the floodway and was later noticed to be waving his hand for help. John Paul subsequently disappeared.

The victim's friends immediately asked for assistance to the nearest residents in the area and likewise informed the family of John Paul at Lawaan Village, Barangay Buhang.

 

Upon recovery of the victim's cadaver, the Coast Guard brought the remains to the West Visayas State University Medical Center onboard the ICER ambulance. The attending physician of said hospital pronounced the victim dead on arrival and his body was turned-over to his family for proper disposition.